EMBASSY UPDATES
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EMBASSY UPDATES
Transcript of EMBASSY UPDATES
EMBASSY UPDATESSpring 2021
A Newsletter for U.S Citizens in El Salvador
U.S. Embassy San Salvador
American Citizen Services Unit
Monday - Thursday, 7:30 am - 11:30 am
Friday, 7:30 am - 12:30 pm
Email: [email protected]
The Embassy currently assesses that sufficient COVID-19 viral tests (RT-PCR and antigen
tests) are generally available in El Salvador to United States-bound travelers, but that lab
closures on Sundays and at other unscheduled times can restrict availability on certain days.
Travelers are urged to make appointments for testing in El Salvador that will be timely for
their United States-bound return flight PRIOR to departing for El Salvador, and to not travel
to El Salvador until they have secured that appointment. Please arrange these
appointments with the laboratories listed listed on the next page.
Covid-19 Test Required toTravel to the U.S.
NEWS
Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the
United States ages two and older must provide a
negative COVID-19 viral test (RT-PCR or antigen test)
taken within three calendar days of travel.
Alternatively, travelers to the U.S. may provide
documentation of a positive COVID-19 test within the
previous 90 days and a letter from a licensed health
care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in
the 90 days preceding travel.
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For more information visit:https://sv.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
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RT-PCR TestAnaliza: the cost is $160, and you need to schedule an appointment by calling 503-2536-
4000 or sending a WhatsApp message to 503-7025-6433. For more information please visit
their website.
Max Bloch: the cost is $165, and you need to schedule an appointment by calling 503-
2564-6555 or sending a WhatsApp message to 503-7487-5493, you may also schedule an
appointment by visiting their website.
Laboratorio Centro de Diagnostico: the cost is $150, and you need to schedule an
appointment by calling 503-2527-5454 or sending a WhatsApp message to 503-7629-
3514/ 503-7869-7980. For more information, please visit their website.
Laboratorio Clinico Centrolab Especialidades Diagnosticas: the cost is $139, and you
need to schedule an appointment by calling 503-2235-9362/503-2235-9363/503-2235-
9364 or sending a WhatsApp message to 503-7045-9840.
Laboratories Available in El Salvador
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Max Bloch: the cost is $60, and you need to
schedule an appointment by calling 503-
2564-6555 or sending a WhatsApp message
to the same number. The fastest method to
schedule an appointment is by visiting their
website.
Analiza: the cost is $40 and you don’t need
to schedule an appointment. To consult their
locations and operation hours, please visit
their website. For more information you may
call 503-2536-4000 or send a WhatsApp
message to the same number.
News / Spring 2021
Antigen Test:
Photo courtesy of: Unsplash
The Government of El Salvador reopened
the International Airport on September
19, 2020 with enhanced health protocols.
U.S. Citizens are generally allowed to
enter El Salvador. However, no travelers
who have visited the United Kingdom or
South Africa in the last 30 days may
enter, regardless of citizenship unless
they are Salvadoran.
One of the requirements that is strictly enforced at the moment is a negative
COVID-19 test (RT-PCR only, antigen tests not accepted). The government of El
Salvador is requiring all airlines to obtain from their international passengers a printed
original negative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result issued
within 72 hours of departure prior to allowing them to board. (Note: the 72 hours is
counted from the date and time of the reception of the test result, NOT from the time
a sample is collected, and the report must state that the test ir RT-PCR).
The U.S. Embassy is unable to facilitate entry of passengers who arrive without proper
test documentation. It is very important that you consult with your airline for full details
prior to attempting to travel. Remember that this requirement applies to any traveler
entering at any port of entry (land, sea, or air).
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Requirements to Enter El Salvador
News / Spring 2021
For more information visit:https://sv.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
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With the recent passage of the American Recovery Act, a third round of Economic
Impact Payments (EIPs) is in process for many U.S. citizens resident in El Salvador. EIPs
will be sent out by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and you can check on your
eligibility, status of your payment, and visit a helpful Frequently Asked Questions link at
https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.
As with prior rounds, some will receive their payments by electronic funds transfer to the
bank at which their income tax refunds are usually sent. For many of you, the check will
be routed to the Embassy and arrive in the American Citizen Services Unit. Those who
have received their check in prior rounds experienced processing and mailing delays of
90 days or more, and unfortunately we expect this round to be the same. For example,
checks for the second round of EIPs that was passed in December 2020 are just now
beginning to arrive at the Embassy. Since eligibility, means of payment, and timing of
delivery are all in the hands of our IRS colleagues, we cannot answer your natural
questions about when your payment will arrive and how much it will be.
If you received prior checks via the embassy or have been informed this round will be
sent in that manner, you can register with the embassy to be informed by email when
the check arrives here by filling out this form.
We will not be able to respond to individual inquiries about each check, but you can rest
assured you will be informed when a payment for you arrives at the Unit.
News / Spring 2021
Economic Impact Payments,The Embassy, and You
Photo courtesy of: Google
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U.S. Passport renewals
First time applications for U.S. passports
Notarial Services
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad
The American Citizen Services Unit is currently open and is offering the following routine
services , but with limited appointments available:
These services are only provided with a previous scheduled appointment. Due to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy has implemented health security measures
that have reduced the number of available appointments.
We encourage all U.S. Citizens to plan ahead to renew their passport if they have
potential travel plans. It takes 3 weeks for the American Citizen Services Unit to
receive a passport after an application has been approved at the Embassy.
For more information on how to schedule an appointment please click here
Our services / Spring 2021
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Services Available
Congratulations on Your New Baby! How CanYou Document Your Child's U.S. Citizenship?
If you are a U.S citizen and your biological child was born in El Salvador, he or she
might be eligible to receive U.S citizenship. If you meet the requirements established
by the Immigration and Nationality Law of the United States, you can apply for your
child s Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). To process a successful application,
the U.S citizen parent(s) must:
- Establish U.S citizenship prior to the child's birth
- Prove biological relationship with the child
- Present evidence of physical presence in the United States prior to the Child’s birth
To find out more, please read and follow all the instructions at http://bit.ly/CRBAen
When a U.S. citizen dies in El Salvador, the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador can assist the family and
friends during this difficult time. Death is a time of crisis for one's family and friends no matter
where it takes place. If a death occurs overseas, the experience can be even more traumatic,
especially if the procedures involved are not clearly understood.
The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit at the United States Embassy in San Salvador issues a
Consular Report of Death Abroad which is an English-language document based on the
information contained in the Salvadoran death certificate; and it’s usually needed by the family to
finalize any pending legal matters in the United States such as insurance claims, pensions, or U.S.
bank accounts, etc. Twenty copies of the Consular Report of Death Abroad, signed and sealed by
a Consular Officer, will be issued to the next of kin of a U.S. Citizen, free of charge.
The ACS Unit also notifies the Social Security Administration (SSA) Regional Office in Costa Rica,
and the Vital Records Office of the death, if applicable.
In order to report the death of a U.S. citizen in El Salvador please send an email to
[email protected] with the following information:
- Copy of U.S. passport of the deceased citizen
- Copy of the Salvadoran Death Certificate
- Contact information and copy of ID of the next-of-kin
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Our services / Spring 2021
Consular Reports of Death Abroad
We will answer your email within the next two business days
and send you detailed instructions to schedule an
appointment to pick up the Consular Report of Death
Abroad.
For more information about the Consular Report of Death
Abroad, repatriation of remains to the United States, and
contact information for Funeral Homes in El Salvador, visit
our website:
https://sv.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/death-of-a-
u-s-citizen/
Photo courtesy of: Flaticon
Upcoming Closures
April 1, Thursday
April 2, Friday
April 9, Friday
May 7, Friday
May 10, Monday
May 31, Monday
June 4, Friday
June 17, Thursday
Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Administrative closure
Administrative closure
Mother’s Day
Memorial Day
Administrative closure
Father’s Day
Note: The consular section is closed
every first Friday of the month.
Photo courtesy of: Google3
You may contact the Federal Benefits Unit in the U.S. Embassy in San Jose,
Costa Rica at: [email protected]
Please have in mind that every time you send an email you must include the
following information:
- Full name
- Social Security Number
- Two phone numbers, including country code where we they can reach you
during the day
- Short description of your inquiry
You should expect an answer in the following 15 working days.
Remember that it is not usually necessary for you to travel to Costa Rica;
almost every process can be done online.
For more information you may visit their website:
https://cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/social-security/
If you are currently living abroad and have inquiries
about any process of the Social Security
Administration, please contact the Federal Benefits
Unit located at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose,
Costa Rica.
We would like to let you know that the U.S.
Embassy in San Salvador is not authorized to
receive any social security applications.
Inquiries About Social Security
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To Remember / Spring 2021
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In addition, you’ll receive travel notifications about the countries you visit to help keep you
safe and prepared. Don’t worry! We don’t spam.
Be Smart and step on up to the STEP program by registering at: www.step.state.gov
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is
an easy way to ensure your safety in an
emergency while traveling or residing
abroad. This program allows the
Embassy to contact you in an emergency
or natural disaster, so that we can assist
you if necessary. It is easy to use: just
create an account, then add and
remove the countries you visit according
to your plans.
Smart TravelerEnrollment Program
To Remember / Spring 2021
Please take a moment now to check the
expiration date on your passport; do not
wait for an emergency to happen to start
the renewal process.
Remember that it is time to renew your
passport if it has expired or will expire
within six months.
All the requirements on how to apply and
forms you will need are available for FREE
at: http://bit.ly/RenewUSpassport
Passport fees are paid at the time of your
appointment at the Embassy.
Check the ExpirationDate on Your Passport!
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Protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19. You can reduce your chances of
being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them
with soap and water.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and others
- Avoid going to crowded places
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild
fever, until you recover.
- If you need to leave the house, wear a mask to avoid infecting others.
- If you have fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention, but make sure to
call by phone in advance if possible and follow the directions of your local health authority.
For more information about privare medical provider in El Salvador, visit our website:
https://sv.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/doctors/
COVID-19 Stay Safe Tips
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Safety Measures / Spring 2021
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